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| Bit of a stormy week just gone but no damage done thank goodness. We lost our electricity for nearly 24 hours but don't you just love those electricity linemen when the lights come back on?! We find that snow on the ground means a lot more work with the boys. They get bored quickly when they can't get at the grass so we tend to make a 'track' through the snow in the paddocks so that they can have a nibble. Unlike sheep and deer who 'paw' at the snow to get at the grass, the boys don't seem to do that at all - wonder what your experience is with them? This is Rufus having some cold grass to eat! |
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| Morning haylage time and Gaucho likes to lie down and enjoy the moment! |
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| Fidget looking a bit wet and dirty. On Thursday, as a prelude to the gales, the ankle deep snow melted very quickly helped by heavy downpours of rain and sleet and this flooded parts of the paddocks. All our hay, straw etc stored in the Steading is on pallets so survived the water flooding over the floor. The boys were wet, dry, wet, dry all week as the weather changed but were none the worse for it. They had Verm-X worming granules in their feed all week with Gully the only one who takes a bit of coaxing to eat them. |
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| In the hen house, Dunc was being a bit of a 'Jessie' and refusing to leave the comfort of his surroundings and venture out into the snow! The cold did not stop him feeling a bit amorous however and having chased the two brown hens out of the door he turned his attention to the Maran. Here he is 'cock-a doodling' like a cockerel possessed with the Maran ready to close her eyes and think of Scotland! We've had half a dozen cockerels over the years and every one of them has hated snow and ice but Dunc has taken it personally and has only ventured out today now that the snow has gone. |
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| We mentioned Faro's left eye in last week's blog. Repeated saline bathing failed to stop the 'gunge' from coming out of the eye socket so we applied Orbenin ointment which we'd got from the Vet. Pleased to report that his eye is now a lot cleaner and drier. |
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| And finally......... snow or no snow, when you've got to go - you've got to go! Scruffy looking Fyta doing the necessary with equally scruffy Fidget and Gully looking on. The snow has now cleared so the 'poop patrol' will take longer than usual today I think! |
The snow hasn't reached us yet this year but last year everyone stayed inside the hangar and huts until one brave soul ventured out and we got lovely photos of the little alpaca trail down the paddock...up to their armpits in white stuff! Good old Fyta...ours just do it inside!! They do get bored though...perhaps you could build them a teach them about snowman...carrot nose up nice and high?!
ReplyDeleteSo much for your nice weather. It's back to the regular yucky cold snowy weather. Feel for the guys. It is odd that they don't paw for the grass. You would think that would be instilled in them. Perhaps the would just rather wait and let YOU do it! lol ...debbie
ReplyDeleteThankfully we've not had snow - but it's been very wet, getting more muddy every day - ours sat in the shelter last winter when snow lay on the ground - 10 or so more days and the daylight will be lengthening!
ReplyDeleteThankfully our snow didn't last too long, unfortunately the fields soon returned to mud!
ReplyDeleteWe too have always had success with Orbenin for eye infections.
ReplyDeleteWe are so muddy here I am looking forward to some frost...didn't think I would be saying that so soon!
Glad you all survived the gales and the snow....its funny how the chickens don't like the snow....my lot won't venture out either !! No doubt....its just a taste of things to come......roll on the Spring !......and in the meantime......keep warm...the boys are looking great......Jayne
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